The nation's only veteran organization fully dedicated to abolish all war, Veterans for Peace, is hosting their first Chicago Convention and Music Festival August 9th-13th, 2017 at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel ( 17 E. Monroe Street ).
Now in its 32nd year, Veterans for Peace convention is themed "Education Not Militarization", and will host a public Veterans Town Hall with the same name on Thursday, August 10th at 7 p.m. ( First United Methodist Church, 77 W Washington St # 2, Chicago, IL 60602 ). Veterans will discuss how increased militarization and inadequate education impact immigration, violence, sexism, the environment, policing and the social and psychological well-being of our neighborhoods.
They are also presenting their very first music festival, "Power to Peace Festival" at The Vic Theatre ( 3145 N. Sheffield Ave ) on Friday August 11th at 6pm. Closing night for the Convention includes a special performance and benefit for Veterans for Peace by Jackson Browne, Sunday, August 13th at Copernicus Theatre ( 5216 W. Lawrence Ave ), 7:30pm.
Veterans for Peace, an international organization of military veterans of all ages will host workshops, panels, present speakers, host a banquet, present film screenings and provide musical entertainment. Their mission since 1985 is to build a new culture of peace, expose the costs of war, heal the wounds of war, seek justice for veterans and victims of war and end the arms race, reduce and eventually end nuclear weapons.
"We are excited to be traveling to Chicago, to join our local chapter, in hosting our convention. Chicago has a rich history of political activism and the opportunity to build on what the local chapter has been doing around linking struggles abroad and at home. As veterans, we know that the cost of war has lasting implications for our communities and our neighborhoods," says Michael McPhearson, Executive Director of Veterans For Peace
National Board Advisories of Veterans for Peace include activists and former veterans-turned celebrities: Yoko Ono, actor Ed Asner ( Lou Grant ) Director Oliver Stone, musician Jackson Browne, Ralph Nadar, among others.
Speakers at the convention include:
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, retired U.S. Army Colonel and former Chief of Staff to U.S. secretary of State Colin Powell.
Captain Paul K. Chappell, Iraq War veteran, a published author with a Peace Book series, lecturer, college teacher on Peace Leadership and the Director of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. is a minister and community activist who is also an influential member of political hip hop. Yearwood currently serves as President of the Hip Hop Caucus, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers young people to participate in elections, policymaking and service projects.
A night of musical and cultural exchange will take place by former Veteran musicians, poets, Chicago bands and DJs at the Festival. Among the talent include Chicago's jazz singer Maggie Brown; alternative rock band, Acres to Miles; DJ Dapper; Oklahoma's national blues star, Watermelon Slim; Indiana's pop-singer Kaylee Shahira; former veterans-turned musicians: James Toler, the UK's Jim Radford; rap/hip hop performers Megacciph and Brittney Chantele. There will also be a Poetry Cipher by three female veterans: Sarah Mess, Norma Mahns, and Brittney Chantele.
Power for Peace Festival. For tickets, visit: www.victheatre.com/event/1504204-1st-annual-power-peace-chicago/
The documentary films that will be screenings are: Beyond the Divide, a story about the political and emotional divides between active duty soldiers in Vietnam and the burgeoning peace community at home in the United States; A Bold Peace, the story of Costa Rica's 68-year victory to abolish their military; and Three Tours documentary on three U.S. vets returning from Iraq, who work to heal their wounds and battle with PTSD.
WHERE AND WHEN
Chicago Event Schedule:
August 9th-13th, 2017
Veterans for Peace Convention
Palmer House Hilton Hotel ( 17 E. Monroe Street ).
https://www.veteransforpeace.org/2017-annual-convention/workshops/
Thursday, August 10th -12th
7:00am-10:30pm "Education Not Militarization"
Palmer House Hilton Hotel ( 17 E. Monroe Street )
Speakers: www.veteransforpeace.org/2017-annual-convention/speakers/ .
PUBLIC EVENTS:
7:00-9:00pm: Veterans Town Hall ( First United Methodist Church, 77 W Washington St # 2, Chicago, IL 60602 ). www.veteransforpeace.org/2017-annual-convention/public-events/ .
Friday, August 11th:
6pm- 11pm: "Power to Peace Festival" at The Vic Theatre ( 3145 N. Sheffield Ave )
http://www.victheatre.com/event/1504204-1st-annual-power-peace-chicago/
Sunday, August 13th:
11:30am-1:15pm: Rally and March: "Education Not Militarization! Support Children, Youth, Communities!" Vietnam Veterans Memorial ( Riverwalk- 55 E. Monroe Street ) and CPS Headquarters ( 42 West Madison )
7:30pm - Jackson Browne Concert ( Benefit for Veterans for Peace ) Copernicus Theatre ( 5216 W. Lawrence Ave ), 7:30pm.
copernicuscenter.org/jackson-browne/ .
